Kristina Roberts
New court documents show that Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), once thought about separating Instagram from his company. This was because he was worried the US government might accuse Meta of being a monopoly. These details came out during a big trial in Washington, where the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is trying to break up Meta’s ownership of Instagram and WhatsApp.
Why Did Zuckerberg Think About Splitting Instagram?
In 2018, Zuckerberg wrote an email saying that sometimes companies do better after they are split up. He also said there was a real chance that the government might force Meta to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp anyway.
“While most companies resist break-ups, the corporate history is that most companies actually perform better after they’ve been split up,” he wrote.
This email is important because it shows that even Zuckerberg believed breaking up Meta could be a possibility.
Why Did Meta Buy Instagram?
During the trial, Zuckerberg admitted that Meta bought Instagram in 2012 because Instagram had a better camera app than what Facebook was trying to build.
“We were doing a build versus buy analysis while in the process of building a camera app,” Zuckerberg said. “I thought that Instagram was better at that, so I thought it was better to buy them.”
This statement supports the FTC’s argument that Meta used a “buy or bury” strategy—meaning they either bought competitors or crushed them to stay on top.
Did Meta Try to Build Its Own Apps?
Zuckerberg also admitted that many of Meta’s attempts to create new apps failed.
“Building a new app is hard, and many more times than not, when we have tried to build a new app, it hasn’t gotten a lot of traction,” he said. “We probably tried building dozens of apps over the history of the company, and the majority of them don’t go anywhere.”
This shows that instead of competing fairly, Meta found it easier to just buy successful companies like Instagram and WhatsApp.
What Does the FTC Want?
The FTC is trying to undo Meta’s purchases of Instagram (1billion)andWhatsApp(1billion)andWhatsApp(19 billion). They believe these deals helped Meta become too powerful and hurt competition.
The case started during Donald Trump’s presidency and is seen as a test of whether the US government can control big tech companies.
Why Is This Trial Important?
This trial could change how big tech companies operate. If the FTC wins, Meta might have to sell Instagram and WhatsApp. This would be a huge blow to Zuckerberg’s empire.
It also raises questions about whether other tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Apple have used similar tactics to stay on top.
What Happens Next?
The trial is still going on, and Zuckerberg’s statements are making things harder for Meta. If the court rules against Meta, it could lead to:
- Instagram and WhatsApp becoming separate companies again.
- Stricter rules for big tech companies buying smaller rivals.
- More lawsuits against other tech giants.
Mark Zuckerberg’s emails and statements in court show that even he knew Meta’s power could be a problem. The US government is now trying to make sure no single company controls too much of the internet.
This case could reshape the future of social media and tech competition. Will Meta be forced to break up? Only time will tell.
